“Thank you all for coming today” began the therapist in a nasally voice, an uncomfortable shift in the room the foldable metal chairs creaking. “Let's start by introducing ourselves, Ill go first.” His voice in such a condescending manner it made you want to break his upturned nose. “Im Dr. Thurman and I'll be your therapist for the next few days, I went to Blah Blah Blah.” Thurman's voice was grinding and was sure to harm the patients further rather than to help them. Next a stocky man stood up, his face covered in stubble and his eyes sunken in, He had a bandage wrapped around his throat. After standing awkwardly in a rough voice that was hardly audible he spoke

“ My name is Nile, I’m 23, and I’m here because of my self harm.” Next stood a mousy petite girl who was considerably smaller than the rest with short auburn hair. “ My name is Griffin, I’m 17 and according to my parents I’m an alcoholic.” She said in an incredibly sarcastic tone which got a snicker from Nile who replied with a quiet “mood.” They went around the circle, six of them in total including Dr. Thurman.

Nile, Griffin, Harriet, Ben, and finally Robert, Who was quit different form the rest of the group, Griffin despite only being half sober and never paying much attention to anyone else, noticed that as Robert stood he did so with like he had done this thousands of times, where the rest of them stood unsure and mostly terrified, She couldn't figure out why but it bothered her like he had done this so many times it ceased to have meaning. Robert was a tall thin boy that spoke in a slow manner as if he were afraid to trip over his own words,

He was 16 but he didn't share his affliction. When Robert sat down Thurman slinked up from his chair and in his pinched voice went on “Now maybe we should talk about the reasons why we're here and elaborate on those problems and how we think we can better ourselves.” Nile stood he was easily the biggest person in the room and yet he also seemed the most timid. He rolled his sleeves up to reveal thousands upon Thousands of tiny white lines running across his sun kissed skin, his head sank in shame and quietly he began “I’m self destructive, and I guess it's cause my childhood.

Not to say my parents beat me or anything...they weren’t soft but they never intended to hurt me” before he could say much more Dr. Thurman went on “Well why do you blame it on your childhood then, if not your parents then what?” That question gained a sharp inhale and long exhale from Nile then he continued “ I had a twin, we were best friends, did everything together, and when he needed me most I wasn't there. See my parents are religious and we would go to church every sunday and bible study every wednesday.

There was this one man there that always stared at us oddly, when you looked into his eyes you could see nothing but a primal hunger like he was an apex predator and we were his quarry.” Nile stayed silent for a while longer and Griffin stared into his eyes and she could see nothing but deep wells of sorrow and pain “He was killed wasn't he?” she asked in a soft voice “by the man?” Nile didn't answer he just continued staring into the floor as if he didnt hear the question.

“Nile?, Do you need a moment” asked Thurman in an almost but not quite endearing way. “No, I’m fine just I haven't thought about this in years. One wednesday I was sick so my mom had me stay home, I felt fine enough to leave home, but I didn't say anything, cause I mean who wants to learn about Jesus.” Griffin snickered “amen.” “ He never came back home, he went missing that night and they found him three weeks later, his body broken and lifeless on the side of the road. I told the cops about the man at the church and when they searched his house they found a sick and twisted alter filled with my brothers blood and pictures lining the walls.

 My parents didn't talk much after that.” The room went uncomfortably quiet until Dr. Thurman spoke “perhaps you self harm and destructive nature is your way of coping with the loss of your brother, but instead of trying to end your life why don't you try living if not for yourself then live for your brother who had his life snatched away, There are always going to be terrible people in this world so why don't you try being one of the few good ones” Nile only gave a small head nod.

Off in the distance a small beep started quiet yet steady, and with that Dr. Thurman stood and said “That's all the time we have for this session, let's start where we stopped next time” and with that the small man hopped from his chair and disappeared out the double doors to do whatever it is men such as himself did.

A week later when the group met for the second time the sky was dark and gloomy, it appeared as if there was a particularly nasty storm brewing. Griffin arrived last and as soon as she walked in she noticed their small group of six now only held five chairs when she took her seat Dr. Thurman began “In the past week we lost a member...You all remember Harriet, I know she didn't speak much but she was battling a lifelong addiction to heroine. She lost her life trying to better herself for her children and she will be missed, let us have a moment of silence for her before we begin”

The silence lasted for all of five seconds before the lightning came down with brilliant flash followed by a horrific roar of thunder and the heavy pound of rain on cement. “A last goodbye kiss to her children and her cry of freedom she may have died but she spent her last few days clean.” thought Griffin. “ I’d like to start.” said Griffin Dr. Thurman shook his head and for a second she could have sworn she seen a tear on his cheek. “ I- I have more than a drinking problem, a few months ago i started popping pills and now they're like candy just one fun flavor at a time,